The 2009 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 61st F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season. Valentino Rossi won his sixth MotoGP title, seventh in the top class and ninth title in total after getting the better of team-mate Jorge Lorenzo in a season-long battle. In the final 250cc championship before Moto2 takes its place, Hiroshi Aoyama became the third Japanese rider to win that title, after Tetsuya Harada and Daijiro Kato. In the 125cc class, Julián Simón won the title after taking seven victories during the season.
Preseason
Cost-cutting measures
As announced during 2008, MotoGP class switched to a single-tyre manufacturer. The move was made to try to improve safety by reducing cornering speeds, and in a marginal way for cost reasons; the winner was decided by bid.[1] Michelin, one of the two tyre suppliers in 2008, decided not to bid for the supply,[2] effectively declaring Bridgestone the winner, which was confirmed on October 18, 2008.[3] Bridgestone will be the sole tyre supplier from 2009 to 2011. Only race spec tyres will be provided to the teams, eliminating qualifying tyres, in use until 2008.
Other cost-cutting manoeuvers were made during the winter prior to the season, to try to contain the rising costs of the sport, especially during a period of economic downturn. FIM was especially concerned, fearing that defections among private and factory teams could leave the grid with 14 bikes only.[4]
After negotiations between FIM, Dorna and MSMA (the manufacturers' association), new measures were adopted. The Friday morning free practice session was eliminated, limiting the Friday practice time to a single 45-minute session (later brought to a 1-hour session from the French GP onwards[5]); a limit of 5 engines was imposed for the last 7 races, with a 10 point penalty for each additional engine used;[6] ceramic composite materials for brakes were banned; electronic assistance was reduced with the ban of electronic controlled suspensions and launch control systems; Monday tests will be cancelled except for Catalunya and Brno, where only test riders will be allowed to take part.[7]
Kawasaki withdrawal and return
With a somewhat unexpected announcement, Kawasaki made public its intention to withdraw from MotoGP immediately on January 9, 2009, citing the global economic downturn as the main cause of the decision.[8] Initial negotiations between Dorna and Kawasaki aimed to run the two bikes with the private Aspar team,[9] but after further talks, on February 26, 2009 Kawasaki announced its decision to remain in the category, running a single bike team with Marco Melandri, effectively leaving John Hopkins without a contract.[10] The team will run under the Hayate Racing banner, as announced on March 1, 2009.[11]
Grands Prix
The 2009 revised race schedule was released on October 24, 2008.[12] A Hungarian round was originally scheduled for September 20, 2009[13] but the organizers asked Dorna to postpone the event to 2010 due to delays in the construction of the Balatonring circuit.[14]
Due to adverse weather conditions, the Qatar MotoGP race was postponed until April 13.[15]
- ‡ = Night Race
Standings
Scoring system
Points are awarded to the top fifteen finishers. Rider has to finish the race to earn points.
| Position |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
5th |
6th |
7th |
8th |
9th |
10th |
11th |
12th |
13th |
14th |
15th |
| Points |
25 |
20 |
16 |
13 |
11 |
10 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
Riders' standings
- Riders marked with light blue background are eligible for Rookie of the Year awards.
- Rounds marked with light blue background were under wet race conditions.
MotoGP
|
|
| Colour |
Result |
| Gold |
Winner |
| Silver |
2nd place |
| Bronze |
3rd place |
| Green |
Finished, in points |
| Blue |
Finished, no points |
| Not classified (NC) |
| Purple |
Did not finish (Ret) |
| Red |
Did not qualify (DNQ) |
| Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) |
| Black |
Disqualified (DSQ) |
| White |
Did not start (DNS) |
| Withdrew (WD) |
| Race cancelled (C) |
| Blank |
Did not participate |
| Excluded (EX) |
Bold – Pole
Italics – Fastest Lap
|
250cc
|
|
| Colour |
Result |
| Gold |
Winner |
| Silver |
2nd place |
| Bronze |
3rd place |
| Green |
Finished, in points |
| Blue |
Finished, no points |
| Not classified (NC) |
| Purple |
Did not finish (Ret) |
| Red |
Did not qualify (DNQ) |
| Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) |
| Black |
Disqualified (DSQ) |
| White |
Did not start (DNS) |
| Withdrew (WD) |
| Race cancelled (C) |
| Blank |
Did not participate |
| Excluded (EX) |
Bold – Pole
Italics – Fastest Lap
|
250cc wildcard and replacement riders results
125cc
|
|
| Colour |
Result |
| Gold |
Winner |
| Silver |
2nd place |
| Bronze |
3rd place |
| Green |
Finished, in points |
| Blue |
Finished, no points |
| Not classified (NC) |
| Purple |
Did not finish (Ret) |
| Red |
Did not qualify (DNQ) |
| Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) |
| Black |
Disqualified (DSQ) |
| White |
Did not start (DNS) |
| Withdrew (WD) |
| Race cancelled (C) |
| Blank |
Did not participate |
| Excluded (EX) |
Bold – Pole
Italics – Fastest Lap
|
† Half-points awarded in Qatar, as the riders did not complete the sufficient distance for full points.
125cc wildcard and replacement riders results
| Rider |
Results |
Yuuichi Yanagisawa |
24th in Japan |
Hiroomi Iwata |
27th in Japan |
Satoru Kamada |
28th in Japan |
Yuki Oogane |
29th in Japan |
Yuma Yahagi |
Ret in Japan |
Alberto Moncayo |
22nd in Spain, 19th in Catalunya, 18th in Portugal, 19th in Valencia |
Borja Maestro |
26th in Spain |
Jordi Dalmau |
27th in Spain, 25th in Catalunya, 18th in Portugal |
Eduard Lopez |
28th in Spain |
Ornella Ongaro |
DNQ in France |
Sturla Fagerhaug |
Ret in France, 22nd in Catalunya, 19th in Portugal, Ret in Valencia |
Steven Le Coquen |
Ret in France |
Cyril Carrillo |
Ret in France |
Luigi Morciano |
17th in Italy, 22nd in Czech Republic, 19th in San Marino |
Davide Stirpe |
21st in Italy |
Gennaro Sabatino |
24th in Italy |
Alessandro Tonucci |
26th in Italy, 23rd in Czech Republic, 29th in San Marino |
Johnny Rosell |
23rd in Catalunya, 20th in Portugal |
Roy Pouw |
DNQ in Netherlands |
Michael van der Mark |
18th in Netherlands |
Karel Pešek |
22nd in Netherlands, Ret in Great Britain, 27th in Czech Republic |
Pepijn Bijsterbosch |
24th in Netherlands |
Toni Finsterbusch |
21st in Germany |
|
|
Manufacturers' standings
MotoGP manufacturers standings
† Following Loris Capirossi's engine change, Suzuki was given a ten point penalty in the constructors' championship at the Australian Grand Prix because of the new for 2009 MotoGP engine change limit rule which restricts each rider to five engines for the final seven rounds.
250cc manufacturers standings
125cc manufacturers standings
† Half-points awarded in Qatar, as the riders did not complete the sufficient distance for full points.
Participants
All entries taken from the official MotoGP site.[16]
MotoGP participants
|
|
| Key |
| Regular Rider |
| Wildcard Rider |
| Replacement Rider |
|
^All entries use Bridgestone tires.
Note 1: Mika Kallio replaced Casey Stoner in Czech GP, Indianapolis GP and San Marino GP.
Note 2: Michel Fabrizio replaced Mika Kallio in Czech GP.
Note 3: Aleix Espargaró replaced Mika Kallio in Indianapolis GP and San Marino GP. He also replaced Niccolo Canepa in Malaysian GP and Valencian GP.
250cc participants
|
|
| Key |
| Regular Rider |
| Wildcard Rider |
| Replacement Rider |
|
125cc participants
|
|
| Key |
| Regular Rider |
| Wildcard Rider |
| Replacement Rider |
|
References